Child&#39;s vehicle



Dec. 16, 1924. 1,519,196

W. C. FARNUM CHILD S VBHI CLE FiledAug. 20, 1923 2 Sheets$heet l ATTORNEY Dec. 24- 1,519,196

W. C. FARNUM CHILD S VEHI OLE Filed Aug. 2 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

WILLIAM C. FABNUM, U1 FITGHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHILDS VEHICLE.

Application filed August 26, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM C. FARNUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Childrens Vehicles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in a vehicle suitable for a child to play with, and more particularly to improvements in the three-wheel type of vehicle upon which a child may sit and propel the vehicle by engaging his feet with the ground.

Toy vehicles of the type to which this invention relates are very popular with children and are commonly subjected to hard usage with the result that the parts soon become loose or broken. 1

One important feature of the present invention, therefore, resides in improvements in the construction of toy vehicles whereby their strength and durability are increased without increasing the cost of construction.

Another feature of the invention resides in adjustable means by which the height of the seat of the vehicle from the ground may be readily increased or decreased.

Another feature of the invention resides in a construction by which parts of the vehicle may be readily folded into a compact space for shipment while other parts may be readily disassembled to facilitate packing.

Still another feature of the invention resides in means for normally retaining the steering post turned to the straight-ahead position.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts in addition to the above will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one good practical form thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle being used as a doll carriage.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a backrest.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the steering handle and means for securing the same to the steering post.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing a modificationin the vehicle of Fig. 1.

Serial No. 658,273.

Fig. 5 i a plan view of the under side of the vehicle with the parts in the folded position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a bracket which is secured to the rear axle; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side View of the bearing in which the steering post is mounted.

The various features of the present invention are shown in connection with a childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, but they are not necessarily limited in their application to this type of toy and many of the features herein disclosed may be used in connection with either two or four-wheel vehicles.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the toy vehicle is provided with a seat 10 conveniently formed of a board and having its forward portion reduced in width so that a childs legs may readily extend downward upon each side of the seat and engage the ground to propel the vehicle forward.

The seat 10 preferably is strengthened by a beam. 11 which extends longitudinally of and is secured to the lower face of the seat. This beam serves not only to increase the strength of the seat 10, but provides a construction to which the wheels of the vehicle may be readily attached. In the construction shown the childs vehicle is provided with a front wheel 12 which is mounted upon a shaft 13'to rotate within the slot at the lower end of the steering post 14, and the vehicle is provided with the rear wheels 15 rotatably mounted upon the transversely extending axle 16.

As stated one feature of the present invention relates to novel means for securing the rear wheels to the seat of the vehicle, and the construction to this end will now be described. A bracket 17 preferably made of sheet metal serves to connect the axle 16 to the seat 10, and in the construction shown the bracket consists of a transversely extending lower portion 18 and upwardly extending arms 19 which arms conveniently are formed integral with the portion 18. The lower portion of the bracket 18 is folded about the axle 16 to snugly embrace this axle, and the folded portion may be secured in its folded position by the rivets 20. The upwardly extending arms 19 are preferably relatively wide at the point where they join onto the portion 18 and taper upwardly, as

will be apparent from Fig. 6, and the marginal side portions 21 of these arms are bent at an angle to the arms 19 to increase the strength of the arms and also to provide a construction in which the upper ends of these arms will extend in a plane at right angles to the axle 16, and apertures 22 are formed through the upper end of these arms through which means is inserted for pivotally securing the bracket 17 to the seat 10. The construction of the bracket 17 just described is such that it is strong and durable and may be inexpensively made by cutting a blank out of sheet metal and bending the parts, shown and described.

The upwardly extending arms 19 of the bracket 17 are spaced a substantial. distance apart and this bracket may be pivotally secured to the under face of the seat by a transversely extending shaft 23 which may be seated in a groove formed in the transversely extending beam 24, and the beam and shaft may be secured to the seat by staples 25. The beam 24 is of sulficient length to fit between the upper ends of the arms 19, as will be apparent from Fig- 5, and the bracket 17 is secured to the seat by inserting the shaft 23 through the apertures and through the staples 25. After the shaft 23 has been inserted in its proper position as shown in Fig. 5, it may be secured in. this position by a pin 26 which engages a notch in the shaft 23 and is driven into the beam 24. As a result of this simple construction it is unnecessary to provide nuts or other enlargements at the ends of the shaft 23 to retain the shaft in place.

By constructing the bracket 17 as just described, and by pivotally securing the same to the seat, an extremely strong connection between the axle 16 and seat is provided; furthermore this construction permits the seat to be supported by the rear wheels at different heights from the ground, and this construction has the further advantage in that it may be readily folded to a compact position for shipment or storage. The bracket 17 may be secured in different positions of annular adjustment by the brace 27, which preferably is substantially t3-shaped and has the rearwardly extending diverging legs 28 the ends of which enter slots 29 formed in the bracket 17 and are bent around the axle 16. The position at which the legs 28 engage the axle 16 is preferably near the wheels 15, as will be apparent from Fig. 5, in order to brace this aide at points near its ends. The bracket 17 may be secured in the position shown in Fig. 4 by engaging the transversely extending portion 30 of the brace 27 with the forward notch 31 formed in the lower face of the beam 11, and the portion 30 may be retained in this notch by a sliding bolt 32 secured in place by spaced staples 33 and having downwardly extending ends 34 that may be readily engaged by the fingers to slide the bolt in the direction of its length. When the brace 2'? is secured in the position shown in Fig. 4, the bracket 1'7 extends downwardly at substantially right angles to the seat 10, and holds the seat in its elevated position.

liihould'it be. desired to lower the seat 10 this is readily done by disengaging the brace from the notch 31 and securing it in the rearward notch 35. This will hold: the bracket in a rearwardly inclined position as shown. in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to ship the vehicle herein described, or to store the same, the bracket 17 may be swung forward until the portion 18 of this bracket is brought into engagement with the lower face of the beam 11, as shown in Fig. 5, and the steering post 14 may be disengaged from the forward portion of the seat, whereupon thev U-shaped brace 27 may be moved into straddling engagement with the forward end of the beam 11, as will be apparent from Fig. 5 with the result that the parts will take up very little space.

Another feature of the invention resides in a simple but strong construction whereby the steering post 14 is secured to the forward portion of the vehicle, and to this end a strap 36 preferably made of metal is bent about the steering post 14, and this strap has reaiwardly extending ears 3'? that may extend into a slot formed in the forward end of the beam 11 and may be firmly secured in this slot by rivets 39. The upper reduced portion 40 of the steering post may be inserted upwardly through the strap 36 and through a hole formed in the board or seat 10, and the shoulder 41 ofthe post may rest against the lower face of the strap 36, as shown in Fig. 1, or the lower face of the strap may be supported in spaced relation to this shoulder by a pin 42, as shown in the modified construction of Figs. 4 and 7.

t is desirable to provide the steering post with means which will normally tend to keep the same in the straight-ahead position so that the steering wheel 12 will not be readily turned in one direction or the other by striking a small obstruction upon the ground. This is readily accon'iplished in accordance with the present invention by forming the triangular shaped notch 43 (see Fig. 7) in the opposite sides of the strap 36. These notches are preferably provided with the inclined cam faces 44 which form a flattened \l-shaped notch in which the pin 42 normally rests. I normally held in engagement with this V- shaped notch by the weight upon the seat 10, but may be forced out of. the upper portion of this notch and along. either cam face 44 by turning the steering post by. the handle The pin 42 is bar to be described. The construction shown in Fig. '7 and just described, forms an extremely simple and satisfactory means for normally holding the steering post in its straight-ahead position, but at the same time permits the post to be rotated to steer the vehicle when a substantial turning force is exerted upon the handle bar. In the construction shown in Fig. l the notches 43 are omitted, but if desired the steering post 14 may be locked against rotation in either direction by inserting a cotter pin or the like through the strap 36 and steering post. WVhen it is desired to permit the post to be steered this cotter pin may be removed from the position shown in Fig. 1 and inserted through. the hole 46 of the steering post, where it will prevent the steering post from sliding downwardly if the toy vehicle is lifted from the ground.

The present invention contemplates that the childs toy herein shown and described may be used not only for a child to ride upon, but may be also used for example as a carriage for a doll, as shown in Fig. 1. In this figure the steering post is prevented from rotating within its socket by inserting the pin 45, whereupon the vehicle may be towed by a cord 17 which is conveniently secured to a loop 48 which loop has a threaded stem 19 that is inserted through the upper end of the steering post and serves to secure the steering bar 50 firmly seated in a notch formed in the steering post. This construction has the further advantage of permitting the handle bar 50 to be readily removed from the steering post when it is desired to disassemble the parts for packing.

The present toy is preferably provided with a back-rest 51 against which the doll 52 may lean, or if desired a child riding upon the toy may use this backrest, and the back-rest is conveniently secured in place by inserting its lower wedge-shaped end 53 in the socket 541: formed by bending a metal strap 55 around the rear end of the beam 11 and by securing this strap in place by a rivet 56. As a result of this construction the back rest 51 may be readily applied to the toy by inserting its lower end in the socket 54, and may be quickly removed by drawing the post 51 out of the socket. The post 51 is preferably provided with laterally extending arms 57 conveniently formed of wire and against which the doll or child may rest. If desired the doll 52 may be held in a sitting position against the back-rest by a rubber band or string 58 extending in front of the doll and secured to the hooks 59 at the end of the arms 57 From the foregoing description when read in connection with the drawing it will be seen that the present toy is strong and durable in construction, that the height of the seat from the ground may be readily varied, and that. if it is desired to ship or store the toy the rear wheels may be folded to a compact position, and the steering post may be removed by disengaging the handle bar and then withdrawing the steering post from the hearing or socket in which itrotates. It will also be apparent that the toy herein described possesses various other desirable features.

What is claimed is:

1. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a. seat supported by a single forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a transversely extending axle for the rear wheels, a bracket for securing the axle to the seat and having a portion folded to form a tube that einlinaces the axle and spaced upwardly extending arms that are secured to the seat, and a brace extending from the seat to the lower portion of said bracket.

2. A childs vehicle comprising in combination, a seat, a pair of wheels, a transversely extending axle for the wheels, a sheet metal bracket for securing the axle to the seat and having a lower portion folded about said axle and upwardly extending arms stilfened by bending laterally the marginal side portions of the arms, means for pivotally securing the upper ends of the arms to the seat, and a brace extending from the seat to the lower portion of the bracket.

3. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat supported by a forward wheel and a pair-of rear wheels, a steering post for the: forward wheel, a back-rest, a seat strengthening beam extending longitudinally of and secured to the under face of the seat, and a socket for the back-rest at the rear end of said beam.

4. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat supported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels and having a hole at its forward end, a steering post for the forward wheel and extending upwardly through the hole in the seat, a seat strengthening beam extending longitudinally of and secured to the under face of the seat, and a bearing for the steering post that is held in place by both the beam and the seat, comprising a strap bent around the steering post and positioned in abutting engagement with the under face of the seat and having rearwardly extending ears secured to said beam.

5. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat supported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a steering post for the forward wheel, a seat strengthening beam extending longitudinally of and secured to the under face of the seat, a hearing at the forward end of the beam in which the steering posts is rotatably mounted, and means including a cam surface for resisting turning of the steering post in either direction from the straightahead position.

6. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat supported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a steering post for the forward wheel, a bearing at the forward end of the seat in which the steering posts is rotatably mounted, a pin extending transversely through the post and bearing-forming memher, and cam surfaces engaging the pin and operable'normallyto hold the steering post in the straight-ahead position.

7. A childs' vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat supported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a steering post for the forward wheel, a strap embracing the post and forming a bearing in which the post rotates, a pin extending through the post and strap, and the strap having an enlarged opening for the pin and constructed to provide sloping surfaces that engage the pin and act upon it to turn the steering post to the straight-ahead position.

8. A childs vehicle comprising in combination, a seat, a pair of wheels, a transversely extending axle for the wheels, a bracket for securing the axle to the seat and having a tubular portion that receivesthe axle and spaced upwardly extending arms that are pivotally secured to the seat, a bar secured to the under face of the seat and having spaced notches, a brace for holding the bracket in different positions of angular adjustment and having a short, transversely extending portion engageable with said notches and diverging legs the ends of which are secured to the axle near the ends of the bracket, and latch means for securing the transversely extending portion of the brace in the different notches.

9. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seatsupported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a steering post for the forward rear wheels, a transversely extending axle for the rear wheels, a steering post-for the forward wheel, a seat strengthening beam extending longitudinally of and secured to the under face of the seat, a bracket for securing the axle to the seat and having spaced upwardly extending arms that arevpivota'lly secured to the seat, a brace consisting of a pair of legs connected at their forward end and extending rearwardly in a diverging direction and pivotally secured to the axle, means for securing the forward end of the brace to the beam-in different positions to hold the bracket in different positions of angular adjustment, and the bracket and brace being constructed andarranged to be swung to folded position with the bracket resting against said beam and with the legs of the brace straddling the beam.

11. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat sup ported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a steering post for the forward wheel, a bracket for securing the rear wheels to the seat, a backrest consisting of a post having laterally extending arms, and a socket at the rear of said seat for receiving an end of the post and holding the post in an upstanding position.

12. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat supported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a steering post for the forward wheel, a'transversely extending axle for the rear wheels, a sheet metal bracket for securing the axle to the seat and having a lower portion folded about said axle to embrace it and upwardly extending arms, means for. securing the upper ends of the arms to the seat, and a brace extending from the seat-to the lower portion of the bracket.

13. A childs vehicle of the three-wheel type, comprising in combination, a seat supported by a forward wheel and a pair of rear wheels, a steering post for the forward wheel, a transversely extending axle for'the rear wheels, a metal bracket having a tubular portion in which said axle is inserted and having slots through the tubular portion near the ends of the bracket, means for" securing the bracket to the seat, and a brace consisting of spaced rods extending in an inclined direction from the seatto the bracket and having end portions that extend through said slots and are bent around said axle.

I In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WVILLIAM G. FARNUM. 

